You’re a Consumer Electronics professional. What’s the most affordable virtual reality device you can get?

2 Standalone VR devices

If you want a hassle-free and portable VR device, you might want to consider a standalone VR device. The advantage of this type is that you don't need any additional equipment or wires to enjoy VR. You can use it anywhere, as long as you have enough room to move around. The downside is that you might have to compromise on the quality and variety of VR content, as standalone devices have less processing power and storage than tethered devices. Some of the most popular standalone VR devices are the Oculus Quest 2, the HTC Vive Focus Plus, and the Pico Neo 2.

5 VR features

When comparing different VR devices, it's important to consider their features and specifications. Resolution, field of view, refresh rate and tracking are the most important ones. Resolution determines the sharpness and clarity of images, with higher resolution meaning better quality, but also more power consumption and cost. The average resolution is around 1080 x 1200 pixels per eye, but some devices can go up to 2160 x 2160 pixels per eye. Field of view is the angle of vision that the VR device covers, with wider field of view meaning more coverage, but also more distortion and blurriness at the edges. The average field of view is around 100 degrees, but some devices can go up to 130 degrees. Refresh rate is the number of times the screen refreshes per second, with higher refresh rate meaning less lag and motion sickness, but also more power consumption and cost. The average refresh rate for VR devices is around 90 Hz, but some devices can go up to 144 Hz. Tracking is the system that tracks head and body movements, with two types: inside-out and outside-in. Inside-out tracking uses cameras on the device to map surroundings while outside-in tracking uses external cameras or base stations for better precision and stability.

6 VR budget

Finally, you need to consider your budget and how much you are willing to spend on a VR device. The price range for VR devices varies widely, depending on the type, features, and brand. Generally, mobile VR devices are the cheapest, ranging from $10 to $100, while tethered VR devices are the most expensive, ranging from $300 to $1000. Standalone VR devices are somewhere in the middle, ranging from $200 to $700. Of course, these prices don't include the cost of additional equipment, accessories, or content that you might need or want for your VR device. You also need to factor in the maintenance and upgrade costs that might arise in the future.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?